Page 53 - Football

Premier League: Liverpool sign Japan midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart

Liverpool signed Japan midfielder Wataru Endo from German club Stuttgart on Friday. The 30-year-old Endo was in the last year of his contract at Stuttgart, where he was the captain. Endo played in all four of Japan's games at the World Cup last year. He was always on my list, just usually we don't sign players of this age group," Liverpool manager Jrgen Klopp said. "He is obviously a top fit and we will have a lot of fun with him. I'm really sure he can help us immediately, which is super-cool because the season already started. The signing comes after Liverpool missed out on another defensive midfielder, Moiss Caicedo, who opted for Chelsea instead. Endo is a defensive midfielder who can also play in the center of defense. He had been at Stuttgart since 2020 and scored five goals in 33 Bundesliga games last season as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

Premier League: Chelsea sign Romeo Lavia on transfer from Southampton

Chelsea completed the signing of 19-year-old defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia from Southampton on Friday after agreeing to a reported transfer fee of 58 million pounds ($74 million). The Belgium international signed a seven-year deal after reportedly rejecting a proposed move to Liverpool. The spending spree at Stamford Bridge continues with Lavia arriving just days after Chelsea signed Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a reported 115 million pounds ($146 million). Caicedo's signing took Chelsea's spending on players to $1 billion in 15 months under its new American owners. The highly rated Lavia has played only 29 times in the Premier League. I'm really happy to join Chelsea and be a part of this exciting project, Lavia said in Chelsea's announcement. It's an amazing football club with a great history and I'm really excited to get started. I can't wait to meet all my new teammates and build a chemistry together to achieve great things together.

Champions League: Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk to play home games in Germany

Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk will play its home Champions League games in Germany this season at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. Unable to host European games in Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, Shakhtar's home games were held in the Polish capital Warsaw last season. The Ukrainian champion said Friday that UEFA has agreed the team can play in Hamburg where it's likely to attract the support of Ukrainians who have been displaced during the war and are living in Germany and other countries. The Volksparkstadion is home to Hamburger SV, which has been a second-division team since 2018. It's also a venue for the European Championship in Germany next year. The stadium has a 57,000 capacity for German league games, including some standing terraces, or 51,500 in all-seater international games.

Messi says happy with Miami move during first public interaction in US

Fans line up outside Inter Miami's practice facility to watch Lionel Messi's car drive away after training sessions. Players from opposing teams wait after matches to get his signature or just a simple handshake. His No. 10 jersey is everywhere in South Florida. For Messi, these are reminders that he made the right choice. He could have continued his acclaimed career with another stint in Barcelona, where he rose to stardom. He could have signed a lucrative deal to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. He chose the unfamiliar to travel stateside and play soccer in the United States, and he's glad about it. "From the beginning, from my arrival, it's been an impressive welcome that we've received," Messi said through an interpreter. He spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since announcing on June 7 that he'd join Inter Miami of the MLS. "Today I can tell you that I am very happy with the decision we made," Messi said at Miami's DRV PNK Stadium in a room so full of reporters that

Arsenal's Arteta concerned about packed calendar post early season injuries

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is concerned about the welfare of players in the packed soccer calendar after a glut of high-profile knee injuries in the opening week of the European season. One of Arsenal's big offseason signings, Jurrien Timber, is set to be sidelined for most of his first year in English soccer after damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on his competitive debut on Saturday against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Elsewhere in the league, Aston Villa playmaker Emu Buendia is expected to miss most of the season with a significant knee problem reportedly an ACL injury sustained in training ahead of the first round. In Spain, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and center back der Milito sustained ACL injuries over the past week. With Villa center back Tyrone Mings (knee) and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring) also picking up injuries in the first round of league games that will keep them out long term, Arteta said

Uefa Best Player award: Messi makes the cut alongside De Bruyne and Haaland

Lionel Messi made the three-man shortlist announced Thursday for the UEFA award as the best player in Europe last season. The FIFA World Cup-winning captain from Argentina, who has left Europe to play for Inter Miami, is up against Manchester City teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. Messi won the UEFA award twice in its 12-year history, both in years when Barcelona was the European champion. Man City won the UEFA Champions League title last season. Pep Guardiola is the favourite for the men's coaching award after leading Man City to the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup titles. Also nominated were Simone Inzaghi of Inter Milan, who led his team to the Champions League final, and Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to the Serie A title. The winners will be announced at the Champions League draw on August 31 in Monaco. The shortlists for the women's player and coaching awards will be announced next week after the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA said. England will face

Harry Kane set for his first start at Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen

Harry Kane has had an "immediate effect" on Bayern Munich's locker-room atmosphere and is expected to make his first start for the German champion against Werder Bremen on Friday, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said Thursday. Hours after being announced as a Bayern player, the England captain came on as a 64th-minute substitute in Bayern's 3-0 loss to Leipzig in the German Super Cup on Saturday. Kane indicated Sunday that he might need time to adapt to Bayern after 19 years at Tottenham. Tuchel said Kane will start Friday's game "if nothing happens today, nothing extraordinary," and said he was fitting in well with the rest of the Bayern team. "My first impressions of Harry are fantastic. He is a top professional, the quality is outstanding and he's a fantastic human being, he is very open, he's first on the training pitch, he is open in the dressing room," Tuchel said. "I think he has an immediate effect in the dressing room with his personality, with his approach to football, his lov

Is it coming home? England eye Women's World Cup trophy against Spain

The rallying cry It's Coming Home is one game away from reality and the end of England's 57-year drought in global soccer. The World Cup trophy can return this Sunday to the birthplace of soccer for the first time since 1966. But if it happens, the journey back to England will be with the women's national team and not the men's. The Lionesses have roared their way into their first Women's World Cup title game, Sunday against Spain. It is the first all-European final since 2003, when Germany beat Sweden. It has been a magical ride for both teams: England has been on top of the global game since winning the European Championship last summer, and Spain is in its first final less than a year since 15 players quit the team in protest. But England was expected to be here, and all around the world, in pubs and at viewing parties, England supporters have been singing It's Coming Home," the unintentional reminder that the soccer team hasn't won the World Cup since 1966. The men's team was t

Nike, Adidas bet big on women's World Cup football shirts, merchandise

Merchandise companies often flood market with easily stockpiled items that only require a little final printing work or other touches, such as novelty championship hats, T-shirts, other collectibles

9 cars, mansion & more: Here's what Neymar wanted before joining Al Hilal

According to Cope, Neymar asked for a 25-bedroom mansion and nine luxury cars which include brands like Bentley Continental GP, Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Huracan and Mercedes G Wagon

Manchester City win UEFA Super Cup, beat Sevilla in a penalty shootout

Manchester City marked its first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday to add another piece of silverware to its vast haul under manager Pep Guardiola. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time and then nine successful spot kicks in the shootout, Nemanja Gudelj struck his attempt against the crossbar to hand City victory inside Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis. It was a 15th trophy won by City in Guardiola's reign that started in 2016 and made up for the loss to Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the Community Shield 10 days ago. "The manager made it so clear to us before the game how much he wants to win this trophy," City midfielder Jack Grealish said about the annual match between last season's winners of the Champions League (City) and Europa League (Sevilla). "You want to win everything anyway but that gave us more of an urge. This club has never won it. It's a brilliant feeling. Youssef En-Nesyri's towering header gave Sevilla the lead

FIFA Women's World Cup: England thrash Australia 3-1 to play Spain in final

England moved on to its first Women's World Cup championship game with a 3-1 victory Wednesday over co-host Australia, ending the Matildas captivating run through the tournament. Australia superstar Sam Kerr started her first match of the tournament and scored for the Matildas but it wasn't enough to hold off European champion England. Ella Toone scored in the 36th minute to put England up 1-0 and the Lionesses dominated possession in the first half. Kerr's equalizer in the 63rd gave the 75,000-plus crowd some hope, but EEngland sealed it on goals from Lauren Hemp in the 71st and Alessia Russo four minutes from the end of regulation time. England and Spain will each be playing in the Women's World Cup final for the first time when they meet at Stadium Australia on Sunday. Australia will play Sweden for third place on Saturday in Brisbane.

Messi boosts Inter Miami to Leagues Cup final with 4-1 win vs Philadelphia

Lionel Messi keeps scoring goals, and Inter Miami keeps winning games. Messi ripped a shot from 30 yards past three Philadelphia defenders in the 20th minute that made fans who paid a record price for soccer tickets in the Philly area rejoice, and Inter Miami beat the Union 4-1 in a Leagues Cup semifinal on Tuesday night. Major League Soccer is Messi's league now. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner scored his ninth goal in six matches with his new team in front of a crowd that pushed 20,000 fans, with ticket prices soaring past USD 1,000 on the secondary market. There were few complaints. Certainly not from three Union season-ticket holders who ditched the home team's garb for a night and traded it for Messi gear. Or fans that lined up for Messi jerseys authenticity not guaranteed and the ones hungry at a food truck for Messi fries. And certainly not from the Union, who, of course wanted to win, but otherwise stuffed the coffers and received more worldwide attention on one night

UEFA Super Cup final, Man City vs Sevilla live match starts at 12:30 AM IST

Sony Sports Ten 2 HD/SD will live telecast Man City vs Sevilla Super Cup match with English Commentary in India from 12:30 AM IST on August 17

Kings Cup football: India drawn against higher-ranked Iraq in semi-final

The Indian senior men's team will face Iraq in the semi-final of the 49th King's Cup football tournament in Chiang Mai, Thailand on September 7. The match will take place at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai. Thailand will take on Lebanon in the other semi-final later on the same day, as per the draw announced by the Football Association of Thailand on Wednesday. The finall of the tournament will be played on September 10. The losing semi-finalists will meet in the third-place play-off. As per the draw mechanics, Iraq (as the highest FIFA-ranked team - 70th) and Thailand (as hosts and ranked 113th) were placed in separate match-ups, and drawn against the remaining two teams -- India, ranked 99th, and Lebanon, ranked 100th. India's last meeting with Iraq was a 0-2 defeat in a friendly in Baghdad in 2010. It will be India's fourth participation in the King's Cup in Thailand, with the most recent one coming in 2019, where the Blue Tigers went down to Curaao in the semi-fin

Premier League: Brighton's Caicedo completes medical, ready to join Chelsea

Central midfielders continue to be in big demand in the Premier League. While Moises Caicedo looks increasingly likely to join Chelsea and not Liverpool for a record fee for a British club, James Ward-Prowse sealed his immediate return to England's top division by ending a 20-year association with relegated Southampton to join West Ham on Monday. West Ham is using the money the club received for selling midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for a reported 105 million pounds (USD138 million) last month, with Ward-Prowse costing 30 million pounds (USD38 million), and Mexico international Edson Alvarez having already joined from Ajax for 38 million euros (USD41.9 million) last week. When I think about my game, it is based on hard work, graft, and giving 100%, Ward-Prowse said after signing a four-year deal. West Ham United has always been a club that has epitomized that. Caicedo is reportedly close to moving to Chelsea from Brighton for 115 million pounds (USD145 million), which would m

Pep Guardiola confirms De Bruyne out for 3-4 months with hamstring injury

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will be sidelined for three or four months because of a recurrence of his hamstring injury, manager Pep Guardiola said Tuesday. Guardiola said it was a serious injury and a decision would have to be made about whether De Bruyne requires surgery. De Bruyne came off with the injury midway through the first half of City's opening Premier League game, a 3-0 win at Burnley on Friday. It is the same problem that forced De Bruyne to be substituted during the Champions League final win against Inter Milan in June. Guardiola was speaking a day before City plays Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup a match between the winners of last season's Champions League and Europa League.

Mohmmed Habib: 'Bade Miyaan' of Kolkata Maidan's 'That 70s show'

He didn't have a bicycle kick like Shyam Thapa nor could he pulverise opposition with the bulldozer-like masculinity of Subhash Bhowmick. He was also not in possession of an aesthetically pleasing left foot, like Prasun Banerjee had, yet there wasn't a bigger crowd-puller than Mohammed Habib who ruled the hearts of Indian football fans from 1970 to 1980. The former India captain, who died on Tuesday aged 74, represented the country in 35 international matches and scored 11 goals, but it is his exploits for Mohun Bagan and East Bengal that became a part of Indian football's folklore. The Hyderabadi was part of the Indian football team that won the Asian Games bronze in Bangkok and was perhaps the second most revered No. 10 in the country after the late Chuni Goswami. The land of nizams gifted Indian football some of its greatest names from coach SA Hakim to Yusuf Khan and former India captain Syed Nayeemuddin but no one could tug the strings of a Kolkata football lover's heart like

Ronaldo to Neymar: Saudi Arabia is changing football one player at a time

Saudi Pro League has signed at least 22 big names from European football since January. The contracts are also bigger than usual. How is it doing so, and why?

Premier League: Varane's late goal help Man United beat dominant Wolves 1-0

Manchester United needed a rare goal from defender Raphael Varane and a slew of late saves from Andre Onana to eke out a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton after being outplayed for long periods of their Premier League opener. The former France center back headed home from point-blank range in the 76th minute after Aaron Wan Bissaka ran onto a lofted pass from Bruno Fernandes and lobbed a cross into the six-yard box on Monday. It was one of the few slick moves produced by United, which gave competitive debuts to Onana and midfielder Mason Mount and failed to look cohesive against a visiting team that dominated midfield and was a constant danger on the break. Wolves struck the post through Matheus Cunha early in the second half, while substitute Fabio Silva drew two saves from the feet of Onana in the closing stages as United hung on. Wolves had 23 shots the most by a visiting team at Old Trafford in the Premier League since 2005 but lacked a cutting edge just like last season, when it was